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Steps of
Cataract Surgery
cataract surgery is not
only one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in
the world, but it is also one of the safest and most successful
surgical procedures that you can have. Cataract surgery is
performed on an outpatient basis and usually only requires a few
hours of your time from beginning to end.
Anesthesia
To begin the procedure, your eye will be
treated with an anesthetic so that you will feel little, if any
discomfort. Anesthetic eye
drops are instilled in the eye pre-operatively. On arrival in
the operating room, a pleasant and very effective relaxing
medicine is given intra-venously. Most patients doze through
their surgery. Just prior to surgery, additional drops of
anesthetic are applied. Additional anesthetic rinse will be
given at the time of the initial incision, assuring patient
comfort.
Side-port minute incision
A minute, painless initial "side port"
incision is made. Thick, transparent fluid (viscoelastic) is injected to
hold open the space between the cataract and the delicate underside of the
clear cornea in front of it. Anesthetic rinse is also applied at this time,
rendering the eye profoundly numb
Phacoemulsification
Ultrasound softens the harder portion of the
cataract so that is can be suctioned from the eye.
Cataract Incision
An extremely thin scalpel makes a 3.0 mm
incision for the cataract removal. There is no sensation at this time
Capsulorhexis (uniform round cutting of the
anterior capsule of the lens)
Carefully a circular opening is torn in the
fragile clear sac that holds the cataractous lens
Irrigation / Aspiration
The last remaining soft cataract material
(cortex) is vacuumed out of the eye, leaving behind the clear, empty lens
capsule
Putting the artificial lens (intraocular
lens) inside the eye
The flexible lens implant has been rolled up
for insertion by the assistant, and is now injected through a soft tube into
the vacant lens capsule
Final wash inside the eye
The thick viscoelastic fluid previously
instilled in the eye is removed, and any remaining microscopic cataract
fragments are rinsed out as well. Frequently, when the patient is told that
the surgery is concluded, he (or she) is quite surprised and says "I didn't
even realize you started!" |
